Chassis



1942- v R. F. DONALDSON 2,294,109

CHASSIS Filed July 31, 1939 ROBERT DU/VAL 050m. 5 6. INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 25, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to chassis constructions, and although same has many applications, it is particularly adapted for association with water craft, such as a boat.

Heretofore the general practice has been to carry the lighter type of craft such as row boats, by mounting the boat upon a trailer. Generally the frame or rack for supporting a boat upon a trailer is quite high, in which event, considerable effort is required to lift and arrange the boat on the rack, and take it off, and unless the boat is exceptionally light in weight usually two or more persons are necessary to perform this task. Also, such trailers are usually rather cumbersome, heavy, and very difiicult to handle. In addition to these disadvantages, it is necessary to provide fastening means, such as rope and tackle to secure the boat on the rack. The majority of fastening means now used have proven unsatisfactory, and this is primarily due to the fact that the fastenings are unable to take the stresses and vibration particularly when the boat on the trailer is loaded with sporting equipment or other items. Moreover, many people are in such circumstances that it is impossible for them to obtain a trailer because of its initial cost, andand when in the water may be automatically ad-'.

justed so that the wheels forming a part of the chassis may be elevated above the water.

Another object is to provide means whereby the chassis may be attached or removed by one from within the boat while it is in the water.

A further object is to provide the chassis with buoyant wheels, which may be lowered into the water for buoyancing and stabilizing the boat; the chassis at least when detached providing life buoys.

A still further object is to provide a chassis comprised of two units or devices, each of which is independently connected to a side of the boat, and means detachably connected to each unit whereby both units or devices may be simultaneously operated. a

Moreover, an object of this invention is to pro= vide a chassis that may be economically manu= factured and assembled, of a desirable weight for easily handling, and one that is durable and efiicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent after considering the drawing annexed hereto in conjunction with the specification.

Referring to the drawing, wherein a number of embodiments to which the invention is susceptible are depicted:

Figure 1 is a top view of a boat showing the chassis applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1, showing the boat in a body of water, with the chassis in an elevated position above the Water line;

Figure 3 is a side view similar to Figure 2, showing a person lowering or adjmsting the chassis from within the boat to engage the bed or bottom of the body of the water;

Figure 4 is a partial side view of Figure 3, showing the means employed whereby the two devices or units comprising the chassis may be simultaneously operated;

Figure 5 is anenlarged top View of one of the chassis units;

Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of one of the chassis units;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1-1 of Figure 6, and V Figure 8 is an embodiment of the invention illustrating means whereby the boat may be held at different elevations.

The invention may be applied to any suitable body, such as a trailer body, but is particularly adapted for association with a boat.

As clearly disclosed in the drawing, and referring particularly to Figures 1 through 3, numeral I represents a boat of any suitable shape or size, having a centrally located seat 2, and a rear or back seat 3. r

The chassis is adapted to be located and attached to the boat whereby the most satisfactory results are obtained. Experience has proven that it is desirable to place the units 4 and 5, com: prising the chassis, slightly to the rear of the center of the boat for a balanced arrangement, and preferably intermediate the seats 2 and 3, so as not to interfere with a person who might wish to either row the boat, or operate an outboard or inboard motor.

Th chassis units 4 and 5, are of such a weight that each can be easily and quickly attached or detached With respect to the boat, whether the boat is on land or is afloat. Furthermore, when the boat is afloat, each unit, as stated above, may be lowered into the water for stabilizing purposes, or above the water. Also the units are preferably made buoyant, and this increases the safety of the occupants, boat and units.

The units may be connected to the sides or strakes of the boat in any suitable manner, but as herein shown, each unit is pivotally connected for circuitous movement in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat. In other words, the units are located opposite to each other for movement in vertical planes, and as will be pointed out hereinafter, the units may be operated independently of each other or simultaneously.

Inasmuch as the units are identical, except for the fact of being right and left-handed, a description of one unit will be suificient for the purposes of this specification.

Referring particularly to Figure 7 of the drawing, unit is. shown as being attached to the side 6 of the boat. A post or pillar 'i is preferably secured to the inner face of the side 6, in order to reinforce the side and provide a support or mounting for the unit. Whether or not a, pillar isused usually depends on the design and construction. of the boat, and particularly as to its side wall construction. The pillar may be secured in place by suitable means such as screws,

ably annular in shape, and as clearly shown, the

rivets extend through apertures provided therefor in the plates, and in the side 6. Obviously, bolts or other means may be used in lieu of the rivets.

A relatively large aperture II is provided substantially centrally of the pillar, and a corresponding aperture I? in the side 6. A resilient tubular bearing l3, preferably of durable rubber, or the equivalent, is arranged in the apertures I l and I2, and provides a very desirable resilient mounting for the unit, and takes the place of the means customarily employed for resiliently supporting the body of a vehicle.

The unit is provided with a shaft l4 about which the unit may be rotated. The shaft extends through the side 6, pillar 1, bearing [3, and through apertures provided in the plates 8 and: 9. The outer end is preferably made cylindrical as indicated at l5, and is preferably permanently secured to a metalblock l 9, by welding orthe equivalent. The inner extremity I! is preferably threaded, and provided with a nut l8 and washer I9. The intermediate portion of the shaft is preferably provided with a taper 20, which is journalled in the tapered aperture 2| provided in the bearing l3. Obviously, other means may be employed for rotatably, mounting each unit.

An annular ratchet wheel 22, which will be described later, is also permanently secured against rotation with respect to the cylindrical portion l5 of the shaft, and in abutting relation with the block 5.

The bearing I3 is preferably made of a length whereby the same may be compressed axially. In other words, the length of the bearing is of a length slightly greater than the combined thickness of the side 6 and pillar 1. When the plates 8 and S are secured in place by the rivets, the

bearing is compressed to some extent, but is compressed further to the desired degree by tightening the nut IS, in which event the washer I9 and the ratchet wheel 22 will engage the plates 8 and 9 respectively, to slightly draw the plates together. This improved arrangement has proven successful in sealing the connection against leakage, and provides a very efiicient and durable mounting for the unit. Obviously, the apertures in the plates ii and 9 through which the shaft extends are of a size sufiicient to provide clearance to permit the unit to float or slightly rock with respect to its mounting in order to take the stresses and shock when the boat is hauled overland.

The metal block 15 may be made in any suitable shape and size, and as clearly shown, the shaft I4 is preferably secured to the upper left portion of the block. An axle 23 is preferably secured against rotation to the lower right hand portion or extremity of the block, and projects outwardly in a direction opposite to that of the shaft i l to rotatably receive a wheel 24 having an inflated tire 25. In other words, as shown by the full lines in Figure 6, the axle is not located directly below the axis of the shaft M. This arrangement provides for a distribution of the stresses placed upon the various connections.

There is also suitably secured to the upper extremity of the block, a flexible metal operating member 26. The lower end of the member is preferably welded or bolted to the upper right portions of the block, and is preferably of a length sufficient to extend a short distance above the upper edge of the side 6 of the boat, when the unit is in the full line position depicted in Figure 6. This member 26 provides means whereby the unit maybe rotated'to any desirable position such as in the full line position in Figure 6 to place the wheel 24 in a position whereby the boat may be drawn overland, or when the boat is afloat, to the position shown in Figure 2 with the wheel entirely above the water line. Also as pointed out above, the wheels may be lowered into the water to assist in buoyancing and stabilizing the boat. Moreover, as shown in Figure 3, when one is in shallow water near the shore line, one may from within the boat lower the unit so that the wheels will strike the bed of the body of water, in which event the boatmay be easily and quickly'wheeled out of the water to land the boat. The boat may also be easily and quickly launched by wheeling it into the water, and the units thereafter elevated as shown in Figure 2.

The operating member 26 of each unit ispreferably provided with a detachable handle 21 to increase the leverage and ease by which the units may be rotated. If desired, the units 4 and 5- may be adjusted independently of each other, or simultaneously by grasping both handles. The units may also be simultaneously operated by means of a detachable inverted U shaped handle bar 28, as clearly shown-in Figures-3 and-4; Each of the'handles 21 is preferably provided with a socket end for receiving the upper end of the member 25, and each extremity of the handle bar 23- may likewise be provided with a socket.

The means employed for automatically retaining the wheel of each unit in various adjusted elevated positions will now be considered. A pawl 29 is pivotally secured to the side 5 of the boat preferablyabove the shaft M by a spindle 30-which extends entirely through the side 6, plate 9 and pillar. The free pointed end of the pawl is adapted to cooperate withthe teeth provided on the ratchet Wheel 22 above referred to. The pawl may be constructed and arranged to normally engage the ratchet as most clearly shown in Figure 6, or if found desirable the pawl may be spring pressed. By this arrangement the wheel of each unit may be lowered and automatically held in substantially any adjusted position desired. The pawl is fixed to the spindle 30, and the inner end of the spindle is provided with a knob 3| which may be grasped to rotate and release the pawl from engagement with the ratchet. As shown in dotted line position in Figure 6, the pawl is in engagement with the ratchet wheel acting to automatically hold the wheel of the unit in one of its elevated positions. To lower the wheel it is only necessary to firmly grasp the handles 21 or the handle bar 28 if that is used, and release the pawl from the ratchet.

Improved means are provided whereby to automatically lock each unit when it is moved to the full line position in Figure 6. This is preferably accomplished by securing a catch 32 to the upper extremity of the pillar 1, as most clearly shown in Figures 5 and 'l. The catch is in the form of a metal plate which is flared at its outer side to provide a pair of cam portions 33 and 34 separated by a notch 35. The plate adjacent the base of the notch 35 is also provided with an upstanding lug 36. The operating member 26 as stated above is preferably made flexible and is so constructed and arranged that when the wheel of the unit is being lowered from the dotted line position to the full line position shown in Figure 6, the member 26 will engage the cam surface 33, causing the member to flex slightly outwardly at right angles to the axis of the boat, and the instant it passes over the said surface, will snap into the notch 35. Obviously, it is first necessary to release each pawl from its ratchet prior to the lowering of each wheel. To release the member or arm 26 from the notch, it is flexed outwardly free of the confines of the notch, and then moved rearwardly in a counter-clockwise direction parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boat, as shown in Figure 3, to elevate the wheel. When each wheel has been elevated to a point whereby the units no longer support the boat, each wheel upon movement to various other elevations will be automatically held in check by means of the ratchet and pawl mechanism.

These different manipulations are those usually employed, but it is clearly evident that the operating arms may each be flexed outwardly and moved forwardly in a clockwise direction over the cam portion 34, to elevate each wheel, and if desirable back over the cam 34 in a counter-clockwise direction, in which event, the arms will snap into the notches 35. Obviously, this latter movement may be accomplished by releasing each pawl from its ratchet. As clearly illustrated in Figure '7, sufficient clearance or space is provided between the side of the boat and. the moving parts to permit the units to be rotated as specified.

While travelling overland, the operating arms 26 are normally satisfactorily held in the notches 35, but to avoid the possibility of escapement, a ring 31 may be slipped about each arm, and the upstanding lug 35 of each plate 32, and secured in place by a thumb screw 38, as shown most clearly in Figures 5 and 7.

Although the ratchet and pawl mechanism are preferably constructed and arranged as shown, it is apparent that if found desirable, they may be constructed and arranged so as to permit the boat to be automatically held in elevations other than that disclosed in Figure 6.

As illustrated in Figure 8, one embodiment of the invention may include a pawl 50 and a ratchet 5|, which may be substituted for the pawl and ratchet above referred to, so as to provide an arrangement whereby the boat may be held at different elevations with respect to the ground or other support. Obviously, the holding action is obtained by reversing the position of the pawl and ratchet, as shown.

If found desirable, a mechanism, including a singlerotatab-le toothed element and a single bolt slidable radially into engagement with said element, might be employed in connection with each unit, whereby the units may be held, for example as shown in Figure 2, or the boat in an elevated position, for example as shown in Figure 3, without manually holding the operating members or arms 26 through the agency of the handles 21 or bar 28.

Also, if found desirable forks corresponding somewhat to the front fork of a motorcycle could be secured to the blocks It, for rotatably receiving the wheels for supporting the boat, in which event the forks could be made to take the place of the resilient bushings l3. In other words, the shafts 14 could be fixed and not resiliently mounted, in which event, the forks must be of a suitable construction. In such case, a flexible operating member or arm substantially corresponding to those above referred to would be secured to the stem of each fork.

A fixture 52 is preferably secured to the bow of the boat, in order to facilitate connection with an attachment carried by vehicle, not shown. Obviously, a rope or cable is preferably secured to this fixture or to some part of the bow so that the boat may be more easily handled when being launched or landed.

In view of the foregoing, it will be evident that new principles of design and construction have beenembodied in a boat or'vehicle whereby to accomplish the objects above referred to, and it is to be understood that various immaterial modifications may be made in the construction without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the kind described, a body, mounting means and a catch carried by a side wall of the body, a shaft journalled in the mounting means, a block carried by said shaft, an axle supporting a wheel carried by the block, and a handle secured to the block whereby the block, axle and wheel may be completely rotated in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body to raise and lower the body with respect to a support, and at least a part of said handle being movable outwardly with reference to the side wall of said body for connection to the catch in a manner whereby to maintain the wheel in a position for supporting the body.

2. A chassis unit adapted for detachable association with respect to a boat, including a shaft adapted to enter the side wall of the boat, means supporting a wheel rotatable with the shaft, and a handle mounted for movement on the supporting means and outwardly with reference to the sidewall of the boat whereby the supporting means including the wheel may be completely rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat to raise and lower the boat with respect to a support.

3. A boat, an aperture in the side wall of the boat, a tubular resilient bearing disposed in the aperture, and plates secured to the opposite surfaces of the side wall for holding the bearing in place, and a shaft carrying a wheel for supporting the boat mounted in said bearing.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, in which the bearing is of a length to be compressed when the plates ar secured in place.

5. A boat, a mounting projecting through a side wall thereof, a unit, including a shaft rotatably supported on the mounting, a generally planar block member secured against rotation to the shaft, an axle projecting outwardly with :respect to the block at a point below and at one .side of the shaft, a wheel carried by the axle,

an elongated handle secured to the block above the axle and movable outwardly with reference to the sidewall of the boat for rotating the shaft, block and wheel with respect to the boat for raising and lowering the boat relative to a sup- ;port, and means for holding the unit and handle in an upstanding position whereby the boat is supported by the wheel.

6. Apparatus adapted for association with respect to the side wall of a boat, said apparatus including a shaft adapted for ntry into a bearing provided therefor in the side wall, a wheel and supporting means therefor associated with the shaft, and an elongated handle associated with the wheel supporting means for manually rotating the wheel supporting means and wheel to raise or lower the boat with respect to a support, at least the upper extremity of the handle being so constructed that the level may be swung outwardly with reference to the side wall of the boat for connection thereto in an upstanding position, in which position the boat is supported by the wheel.

7. A chassis unit adapted for detachable connection with the side of a boat, said unit including a shaft adapted to be inserted into 'a bearing provided therefor on the side of the boat, a block permanently secured to the shaft and depending therefrom, an axle projecting outwardly from the lower extremity of the block, a wheel carried by the axle, and a relatively rigid elongated manually operated handle secured in an upstanding position to the upper extremity of the block and adapted for movement outwardly with reference to the side of the boat for connection thereto in a manner whereby the wheel will support the boat.

8. A boat, a horizontally disposed mounting means projecting through a side wall of the boat, a generally triangular plate, a shaft rotatably arranged in said mounting means permanently secured to and extending outwardly at right angles from one side'of the plate adjacent one corner thereof, an axle carrying a wheel permanently secured to and projecting outwardly at right angles from the other side of the plate adjacent a second corner thereof, and an elongated handle lever secured to the third corner of the plate extending generally in the same plane as the plate adapted for connection in an upstanding position with the side wall of the boat whereby the wheel will support the boat.

9. A boat, mounting means projecting through a side wall of the boat, a shaft secured in a horizontal position in said mounting means, a body member carried by the shaft, a wheel and means for supporting the same secured to the body member some distance below the shaft, an elongated handle lever secured to and extending upwardly above the body member and above the boat whereby the wheel and wheel supporting means may be rotated in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boat for raising and lowering the boat with respect to a support, at least a part of said lever being adapted for movement in a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat whereby the lever may be adjustably secured to the side wall of the boat in an upstanding position so that the wheel will support the boat.

ROBERT F. DONALDSON. 

